Yoruba ‘ll vote for performance, says Akinrinade

The Convener of Yoruba Peoples’ Assembly Lt-Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd) has said that Yoruba will always vote for performance in general elections.

He said the purported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by selected Southwest leaders may not achieve the desired result because the people are educated, sophisticated and politically conscious.

Akinriande lamented that the ‘Yoruba Agenda,’ which encompassed the legitimate demands of the Yoruba in the six Southwest states, Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Kwara, was rejected at last year’s National Conference.

Giving reason for the collapse of the agenda, the former Chief of Army Staff said many delegates could not comprehend great ideas.

The elder statesman, who spoke with our correspondent in Lagos on the state of the nation, said selected Yoruba leaders in the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, who have endorsed President for a second term because of his promise to implement the conference report, have misled Yorubaland.

He said, while the Afenifere leaders have the right to personally endorse the President, they cannot speak for Yorubaland at this critical time.

The civil war hero reflected on the proposed deployment of troops for election purpose, saying that it is counter-productive. He said soldiers are needed more in the Northeast region to fight terror and liberate the abducted Chibok girls.

Akinrinade also reflected on the challenges that will face the winner of the presidential election. He said the next President will inherit a divided country, a comatose economy, soaring unemployment, grave security challenges and corruption in the corridor of power.

The former Minister of Agriculture said the warning by Americans on disintegration should not be discarded by wise Nigerians. He said the doomsday can only be averted by a leadership that can rise to the occasion.

Flaying Yoruba leaders for misleading the people on the outcome of the National Conference, he said the conference did not favour the Southwest region.

Akinriade also lamented that the region is still being marginalised by the Federal Government, adding that nothing has changed, except the appointment of Brig-Gen. Jones Arogbofa as the Chief of Staff to the President.

On the conference report, he said: “There are certain things that are sacrosanct to the Yoruba people. For instance, when we talk about true federalism, you don’t just do it on paper. All the elements that go with it like derivation, fiscal federalism, you must have responsibilities. Where are the powers which will be used to discharge the responsibilities? You don’t give me a state police and say that there is a national police being paid for by the central government, which people are free to use. But, if I want a state police, that I must pay for it myself. That is not a fair way to organize federalism.

“The major issue is that we wanted a government that is more accountable to the people, a government that is close to the people. It is the parliamentary system that gives that kind of atmosphere. There was no reasonable discussion, not to talk about the merit of it. It was not the kind of assembly that I like; when you are given three minutes to talk.”

Akinriade said the Yoruba Assembly will remain committed to the Yoruba Agenda and continue to raise public consciousness about its objectives.

He said the Ibadan meeting has led to a re-awakening in the Southwest.

Akinrinade said Afenifere chieftains were not speaking the mind of Yoruba when they endorsed the President for a second term. He said:” It is difficult to explain in a non-offensive way. There are challenges in Yorubaland. There are group of people who sold us for pittance. They misled us by trying to move us into what they call mainstream politics. All those who stood against it became their enemies. “There are all sorts of things going on around town about some of our eminent politicians, which people don’t want to recognise. But, I believe during this hours of need in Yorubaland, some people stood up and did very well. If not for them, we should have been in the mainstream politics of Nigeria and that is not a very good idea. It is full of corruption, almost brigandage and we cannot accept that for the Yoruba people.

“There is this group that says they endorsed the Presidency of Jonathan for another four years. You can do that anytime, but you cannot do it on behalf of the Yoruba people. You don’t have to do that for me. I don’t believe that everybody in Yorubaland would like to support Jonathan. We have always been broad minded people who can think and decide what they want. You have to convince them about it. I am not convinced that the so-called elders were now looking at the Yoruba agenda viz-aviz what we went to do in Abuja and what the results are.”